Trump Opens Door Again to Meeting Kim Jong Un During Asia Trip

As President Donald Trump travels through Asia, questions about a showdown with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un swirl again.

But notwithstanding his openness to sit down, timing and Pyongyang’s lukewarm response suggest a summit is unlikely — at least on this trip.

Trump Signals He’s “Open” — But North Korea Pushes Back

On Air Force One, Trump told reporters he would be “100 percent” open to meeting Kim if circumstances allowed. “I got along very well with him,” he said, adding that he might even extend his trip if needed.

However, North Korea’s reaction has been cautious. In response, Kim urged the U.S. to drop its “absurd obsession” with denuclearization and instead treat North Korea as a “real nuclear power.” But he also didn’t commit to a meeting. “We really weren’t able to work out timing,” Trump acknowledged.

Analysts note that a South Korean presidential aide recently said a Trump–Kim summit is unlikely in the near term, citing a lack of concrete plans despite speculation.

Missile Tests and Message Timing

Just ahead of Trump’s arrival in South Korea, North Korea launched sea-to-surface cruise missiles over western waters — reportedly flying for more than two hours before striking their targets. Some interpreted the tests as a calibrated show of military strength timed to coincide with Trump’s trip.

Trump downplayed the launches, saying, “He’s been launching missiles for decades, right?” His response suggested the incidents wouldn’t derail diplomatic ambitions.

Why a Meeting May Not Happen — Yet

• Scheduling constraints: Trump’s Asia itinerary is already tight, with stops in Japan and South Korea, plus a planned summit with China’s Xi Jinping. Adding a Kim meeting would require major adjustments.
• North Korea’s conditions: Kim’s openness has come with caveats — he’s floated the idea of talks only if the U.S. abandons demands for full denuclearization. That is a steep ask.
• Lack of mutual alignment: Past Trump–Kim summits (Singapore 2018, Hanoi 2019, and DMZ 2019) ended without lasting breakthroughs. Trust and clarity of terms still pose big hurdles.
• Political optics and risk: Trump must balance signaling openness with avoiding the appearance of conceding too much to a regime that remains under heavy sanctions and global scrutiny.

What’s at Stake If It Happens

• Diplomatic recalibration: Another summit could reset bilateral messaging, potentially opening a new track of negotiations or easing sanctions pressure.
• Regional dynamics: South Korea and China would watch closely — a meeting could shift power balances in East Asia.
• Nuclear policy & security: Even symbolic engagement with Kim can sway how the U.S. strategy on North Korea, deterrence, and nonproliferation is perceived.
• Messaging to allies: How the U.S. handles any meeting matters for regional allies like Japan, Australia, or Taiwan — they’ll watch for signs of commitment or ambiguity.

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